BRONCHITIS, TRACHITIS, ETC. 123 



flamed, the disease is termed Bronchitis, Trachitis, and Laryn- 

 gitis, according as the bronchite, the trachea, or the larynx bears 

 the brunt of the attack. These parts are sometimes separately 

 diseased ; but more frequently they are affected simultaneously, 

 though not perhaps in the same degree, or to the same extent. 



There are two forms of this disease, each distinctly marked, 

 the acute and the sub-acute; the latter being perhaps the more 

 frequent. 



The former is an extremely dangerous disease, and very fre- 

 quently proves fatal. This is owing partly to the great extent 

 of membrane diseased, and the difficulty of affecting it by our 

 treatment, and partly to the obscurity of its symptoms, and the 

 insidious nature of its approach, whereby it has often existed to 

 a great extent before attention has been called to it. 



It may be produced by exposure to cold or sudden changes of 

 tempei'ature, there being a predisposition in the part to become 

 affected. 



It more frequently occurs in the autumnal and winter seasons, 

 but particularly in the former, and during the prevalence of wet 

 weather. 



The symptoms are at first very obscure : a cough, a staring 

 coat, and slight impairment of the appetite, and a discharge of 

 mucus from the nostrils. The case perhaps is regarded as a 

 common cold ; suddenly the appetite is lost, the pulse is remark- 

 ably quick and weak, and the membrane of the nostrils intensely 

 reddened. In very severe cases there is a suppression of all 

 nasal dischai'ge, and often a disappearance of the cough. In 

 fatal cases the symptoms increase in intensity for several days. 



There is a total loathing of all food ; the nasal membranes 

 change -from a red to a purple hue ; the extremities are cold ; 

 the pulse becomes quicker, weaker, and more imperceptible ; the 

 respiration is for some time not quickened, but deeper than 

 natural ; at length it becomes quicker, and the horse obstinately 

 prefers a standing posture. 



Thus the symptoms continue getting gradually more aggra- 

 vated, until death closes the scene in the course of a week, more 

 or less. 



An inspection after death shows the mucous membrane of the 

 bronchia? and trachea, instead of being white, its natural colour, 

 absolutely purple or dark green, from inflammation and gangrene. 



This, however, is bronchitis in its most severe and dangerous 

 form ; but it is fortunately not so frequent as when it assumes 

 a milder appearance. In severe cases, there is often a consider- 

 able discharge from the nostrils, and a distressing cough ; the 

 pulse is quick, from 50 to 70; the respiration is disturbed, but not 

 much quickened; the extremities preserve their temperature; and 

 the appetite, though considerably diminished, is not totally lost. 



